In The News

Over 90% vote in favor - The Ukraine votes for independence from the Soviet Union. Leonid M. Kravchuk, their new president said that the former Soviet republics, and not the Kremlin, should now take collective command of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Embattled chief of staff John H. Sununu, quits that position in an unexpected “peaceful” departure. He was said to be a campaign drag for President Bush.

After more than 6 ½ years of captivity, hostage Terry Anderson is released. He’s the last American hostage to be released in Lebanon. The action ends an agonizing and frustrating seven-year hostage ordeal for the U.S.

Charles Keating Jr. is convicted on 17 of 18 counts of securities fraud stemming from the sale of his company’s junk bonds at Lincoln savings & Loan branches.

President Bush picks Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner as his new chief of staff.

Interstate-5 in California’s San Joaquin Valley opens after a massive fog-caused pile-up that killed 17. More than 100 cars and big-rigs were involved in what was described as “zero visibility” conditions.

Japan says it will not offer a former apology for its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor 50 years ago this week. Instead, it will take a “reflective look” at the military action that caused the attack.

Top TV Shows/Ratings – December 1, 1991

60 Minutes – 23.7

Murphy Brown – 21.0

Roseanne – 19.5

Memories of MASH – 18.8

Movie-E.T. The Extraterrestrial – 18.4

Murder, She Wrote – 18.0

Full House – 17.6

Home Improvement – 17.4

Coach – 17.2

Movie-A Mother’s Justice – 16.7

Unsolved Mysteries – 16.5

Major Dad – 16.5

Evening Shade – 16.0

Fresh Prince of Bel Air – 15.8

America’s Funniest People – 15.7

America’s Funniest Home Videos – 15.0

Football – 14.3

Married… With Children – 14;0

Empty Nest – 13.8

Blossom – 13.7

In The Heat of the Night – 13.6

Law & Order – 13.6

Movie-Big – 13.6

Television news – December 1, 1991

NBC says it will lose up to $70 million this year and will probably drop Saturday morning cartoons. NBC recently had a six-year run as the #1 place.

CBS says it will offer overnight news beginning in February. Look for “Nightwatch” between 2 and 6am.

All of the original crew of “Star Trek” place their autographs into the famed cement at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Music news – December 1, 1991

Madonna’s managers aren’t taking any chances and are taking steps to silence rumors that the singer is HIV positive. They want to know where they began.

Michael Jackson’s new “Dangerous” album, despite a multimillion dollar publicity campaign that included a national network premiere of the single “Black or White” – still sold less than either new “Guns N’ Roses” album.